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Committee sends House Bill 29 to the Senate floor to add synthetic substances and anabolic derivatives to Idaho controlled-substances schedules
Summary
The committee voted to give House Bill 29 a "do pass" recommendation; the bill updates Idaho’s controlled substances schedules to add multiple synthetic fentanyls, cannabinoids, benzodiazepines, stimulant compounds and anabolic steroid derivatives, and places a newly FDA-approved postpartum depression drug in schedule 4.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 29 to the Senate floor with a "do pass" recommendation after a presentation from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
Nikki Chopsky, health professions bureau chief at the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses and executive officer for the boards of medicine, nursing and pharmacy, told the committee the bill updates Idaho Code 37-2702(a) to add several synthetic illicit substances to the controlled-substances schedules that the state maintains independently of the federal DEA list. "We review these on an annual basis," Chopsky said, explaining Idaho does not incorporate federal scheduling by reference and instead considers DEA actions and other factors such as overdose reports and international scheduling patterns.
Chopsky summarized the bill by drug class: it would add 10 synthetic fentanyl-related substances to the opiate schedule in schedule I; seven synthetic cannabinoids (THC-related) to the hallucinogens list in schedule I; five synthetic benzodiazepines to schedule I; two synthetic stimulant compounds ("bath salts") to schedule I; 23 man-made testosterone derivatives classified as anabolic steroids to schedule III; and zuranolone (brand name as stated to the committee) — a new FDA-approved treatment for postpartum depression — to schedule IV. Chopsky told the committee there was no expected fiscal impact to the general fund or dedicated funds from the scheduling changes.
Senators asked for context on how and why substances are scheduled. Chopsky explained the board evaluates overdose numbers, abuse potential, deaths, and international usage trends and then recommends scheduling to the legislature. She said Idaho already had about 60 anabolic testosterone derivatives in schedule III and the bill would add 23 additional derivatives so that enforcement action would be possible if misuse occurs.
Senator Wintrow moved that House Bill 29 receive a "do pass" recommendation to the floor; the motion was seconded by Senator Blaylock and passed by voice vote with no opposition noted on the record.
The bill will proceed to the Senate floor for further consideration. The committee record includes the statutory reference cited by the presenter: Idaho Code 37-2702(a).
